Cypermethrin-induced cortical neurons apoptosis via the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

• Published in: Pesticide biochemistry and physiology 2020-05, Vol.165, p.104547, Article 104547
• Main Authors: Zhou, Lihua, Zhou, Mengqing, Tan, Handan, Xiao, Mengxi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cerebral Cortex; Cortical neurons; Cypermethrin; Neurons; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Nrf2/ARE; Oxidative Stress; Pyrethrins; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 0048-3575; 1095-9939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2020.02.013

Pesticide residue is a common problem worldwide. Cypermethrin is a type II pyrethroid pesticide that has been widely used in recent years. It has become a widespread residual pesticide in the environment and agricultural products. The neurotoxicity of cypermethrin remains a matter of concern. However, few studies have evaluated its toxicity on cerebral cortical neurons. As the center of the nervous system, the cerebral cortex is involved in a series of biological processes, such as learning, memory, emotions, and movement. The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway has been considered to play a protective role in several central nervous system (CNS) diseases. We investigated whether this pathway plays a protective role in cypermethrin-induced apoptosis of the cortical neurons. We established a cypermethrin-induced apoptosis model in the cortical neurons using different cypermethrin doses and different incubation periods. The changes in Nrf2 protein and mRNA expression and its downstream genes HO-1 and NQO1 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting to study the role of the Nrf2/ARE pathway in cypermethrin-induced apoptosis of the cortical neurons. The results showed that the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway has a protective effect in cypermethrin-induced apoptosis of the cortical neurons. However, this protective effect of the Nrf2/ARE pathway is very limited and is dependent on the exposure dose and exposure period of cypermethrin. [Display omitted] •Cypermethrin-induced apoptosis in mouse cortical neurons increases with increase in the dose and exposure time.•The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway exerts a protective effect on cypermethrin-induced apoptosis; however, this effect is limited•The pathway is activated when cypermethrin exposure dose is low and exposure time is short, exerting its protective effects.•The pathway is inhibited when cypermethrin exposure dose is high and exposure time is long.